Graphic Design Overview

The Graphic Design program at SUNY New Paltz is based on our strong conviction that broadly educated individuals make good designers. Our program integrates the College’s Liberal Arts core courses with a rigorous Design curriculum. We position Design as a cross-disciplinary practice with skills drawn from Communication and Media, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, and Fine Art. Not only do students “do” design, but they also think, read, write, and talk about design.

Professional design practice involves engaging in lifelong learning. Our program emphasizes process and research methods and prepares students for both independent and collaborative work. We respond to rapid advancements in design tools and practices by teaching design techniques that span the range of low to high technologies. Classes are taught in a hybrid studio/seminar format, in which demonstrations, lectures, discussions, and critiques alternate with work periods. Projects are often undertaken in collaboration with other campus programs.